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President-elect Obama answers a question as his Chief of Staff-designate Rahm Emanuel, a former Clinton White House aide, listens during a news conference in Chicago, Friday, Nov. 7, 2008.
AP Photo

Plouffe remains a key adviser and was spotted in the transition office Thursday, but with a new baby, credit for a historic victory, and plans to return to the private sector, he's no longer running the show.

Podesta, who heads the Center for American Progress, was Clinton's chief of staff from 1998 to 2001 and a key figure in his second term. As one Clinton loyalist noted with some satisfaction (if anonymously) on Thursday, Podesta’s role in the transition, and the new prominence of Clinton administration officials, suggests that Obama has absorbed one of Hillary Clinton's talking points: That it takes experience to make change happen.

Thirty-one of the 47 people so far named to transition or staff posts have ties to the Clinton administration, including all but one of the members of his 12-person Transition Advisory Board and both of his White House staff choices.

Most of those appointees weren't West Wing heavy-hitters, but lower-profile policy hands such as former Deputy Secretary of Defense John White and former State Department official Wendy Sherman. They include former deputies to National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, Defense Secretary William Perry, and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and some currently work at consultancies run by those Clinton administration principals.

Others are old Obama allies who also have Clinton ties, like Michael Froman, a transition adviser who was Obama's classmate at Harvard Law School and served as Robert Rubin's chief of staff at the Clinton Treasury Department, and Christopher Edley, who taught Obama at Harvard and also served Clinton, and who is married to a former Clinton deputy chief of staff.

"This is a good way to try to be helpful without giving up my new life at Berkeley," said Edley, who is now dean of the law school at the University of California at Berkeley, in an email.

The highest-ranking member of the group with deep ties to both Clinton and Obama is Emanuel, a Chicagoan who is very close to Obama and his chief strategist, David Axelrod.

Though the transition is still young, former Clintonites say they feel a change in the atmosphere.

"It's heartening to see that that was just primary rhetoric," said a former Clinton aide of Obama's criticism of Clinton's administration.

Obama has continued to keep his distance from aspects of Clinton's legacy, however, and even his decision to bring Clintonites into the transition and administration is in part a judgment of his Democratic predecessor’s chaotic, insular transition 16 years ago.

And there remains a distinction between the policy and political sides of Hillary Clinton’s operation. Soon after the primary, top Clinton policy aides, such as economic adviser Gene Sperling, were quietly integrated into Obama's campaign. The only member of Clinton's inner circle to join Obama's campaign staff was her policy director, Neera Tanden.

A campaign's policy shop feeds the bulk of a new administration's appointments: Most of the key positions on White House staff and in executive agencies are policy posts.

But while the Clinton policy shop may feel like the gang is getting back together, the political team has yet to be invited in.

Said one former Clinton campaign aide, "Obama has clearly made a distinction between the small group of Clinton campaign staff, who clearly aren't much welcome, and the large number of Clinton White House personnel who are."

Readers' Comments (936)

This shows that Obama is serious about governing. Obama said from the very beginning that he would surround himself with the most qualified people, and it's not at all surprising that the most qualified people on the Democratic side happened to have served in the only Democratic administration in the last 30 years. It should also be noted that this is the transition team, so having someone experienced with the internals of Washington is absolutely invaluable. We still don't know what Obama's cabinet is going to look like yet. I will say though that I am opposed to the idea of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state. I think her comments about how we shouldn't talk to our enemies and her comments about "obliterating" Iran disqualify her. If it weren't for those comments, I think it would be a good pick. But, I can also see how it's shrewed politics on Obama's behalf to put her in that position. It's very Lincoln-esque (surrounding yourself with former opponents to feed off the ideas of those who have challenged you). The politics of it make a lot of sense, I just don't think her world view is compatible. I think that John Kerry would actually be a better fit, but I trust Obama's judgment, and will support him no matter what he decides to do.

I think this really IS "change we can believe in" Obama is change because he sees the need to heal old wounds - he sees value in experience not bitter divisions. He's not afraid to call on old foes to help him. We all need to support our new president - times are too harsh to do otherwise.

All I can say is Obama will provide direction. Dont forget who is in charge here, so theres no need to say that things will still be the same. I feel Obama (for a good reason) is VERY dedicated to make things happen and he wont allow himself to fail. THAT, I truly believe.

Obama has shown a great sense of PURPOSE throughout the campaign. Obama knows the American people voted him in for a reason. ANd he is going to work hard to satisfy the many voices and issues he stood for.

Finally, I know Obama doesnt rely on himself. He is an intelligent man who prays to God for guidance and that will take any man a looong way towards success. Anti-radical christian leadership that focuses on the poor and working class...that my friend, if youve read the word of God, is something that God smiles upon.

"Change we can believe in" my arse!! It's the Clinton Administration all over again! What a phoney Barry is, what a consumate con man. He said it wouldn't be government as usual and that is EXACTLY what it is!! You mean to tell me there is no NO ONE new and fresh he can bring on? No new ideas? What the hell are these band of losers going to do to help us!!??

I think this really IS "change we can believe in" Obama is change because he sees the need to heal old wounds - he sees value in experience not bitter divisions.

Granny if you weren't in such denial, you sense the smell of a duck! You have to be joking! This is a return to the old hacks of the Washington insiders when the Clintons were around. Now the only "change" we're waiting for is a fresh new face as Secretary of State - and the envelope please......... HILLARY CLINTON. Aaaaaah, "change" alright! What a fraud.

The Hillary choice as Sec of State would be brilliance. It's good for Obama to have a strong powerfully informed person on his staff. Hillary would be an awesome asset and be exactly the perfect personality. Hillary has the strength and the genius brains to add her opinion and to think of aspects that would only occur to a person with her global experience. Plus she is very cautious and responsible about speaking - so she would be more than an excellent choice she would be an exciting choice. And as far as picking a lot of other Clinton people - of course you will. You want experience informed adult competent people. The importance of experience can't be overestimated.

We all need to support our new president - times are too harsh to do otherwise.

Except for the far right wack jobs, we will see expotenionally more support for President Obama from Republicans and conservatives than Democrats and liberals gave GWB, ever.

No President-elect has ever been so prepared.

GWB will not be a stumbling block in this endeavor. This is the way it is supposed to work. The MSM will give accolades to GW for this. Which is bull. It is what is supposed to happen.

Michele Obama should be appointed to Barack's Senate seat

Wow, Sarah Palin was damn near tarred and feathered for having the audacity to be a Governor and then to get on a national ticket while she has children at home. It was considered by many on this web site to be proof that family values is a hypocritical republican lie. I guess that would be different for the Obama's. Maybe Hillary Clinton and her village will raise the Obama children.

Interesting! As soon as the Clinton folks are involved there appears to be a leaky pipe in the Obama structure. Obama's Campaign lasted 2 years with virtually NO LEAKS. And, now it's a very different story. First started with the leak about Rahm Emanuel & now Hillary Clinton. Time to find out who the 'leaky' sources are! Or, where the rumors are starting.

We've already seen that Hillary is GOOD AND EXCELLS at whatever she does. She can stand up to the big boys and hold her own and does her homeword and knows what she is talking about(unlike that pitbull with llipstick dumb, liarPalin) However I was hoping that she would stay in the Senate and eventully go to the Supreme Court, she would be a great counter balance to those Conservative a*******holes. But that might not be as exciting for fast moving Hillary. WHATEVER IT IS SHE WILL OUTSHINE!!! There are millions of Hillary supporters. Tell Palin to go home! AND MORNING JOE S. EAT YOUR HEART OUT WE WON, YOU COULD TAMP DOWN YOUR SEETHING ANGER!!

I don't think anyone really cares if the far-right "believes" in this change or not. But you should believe that this change is now inevitable.

As long as you stay in denial, your party will not likely be able to make the changes that it needs in order to become a national party again.

"Conservatives pride themselves on resisting change, which is as it should be. But intelligent deference to tradition and stability can evolve into intellectual sloth and moral fanaticism, as when conservatives simply decline to look up from dogma because the effort to raise their heads and reconsider is too great. "

--William F. Buckley, considered by many the father of modern conservative thought.